Cougars’ Pearlstein wins 150th in extras

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 7, 2025

2025 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

GROSSMONT HILLS LEAGUE

STEELE CANYON 4, VALHALLA 3 (9 INN.) – In quite the tight contest Wednesday afternoon the Steele Canyon Cougars clawed their way to a come from behind victory to stun the Valhalla Norsemen in extra frames. After tying the game up the Cougars claimed the victory when Tevia Cohen was able to tag up from third and race home for the game winning run.

Steele Canyon early on would lead 1-0 thanks to Payton Sos singled in a run in the bottom off the first inning.

The momentum would shift in the top of the second inning when Natalia Marco blasted a two run bomb deep over the center field fence to give Valhalla a 2-1 lead.

Trailing by a run in the bottom of the fourth inning the Cougars would scratch across the game tying run on a ground out by Cohen that allowed Kayala Hopkins to plate.

With neither team giving an inch pitching wise the game would head into extra innings where Liliana Moscoso would drive in the go-ahead run to make it 3-2 in favor of the Norsemen in the top of the ninth inning.

Steele Canyon down to their last at-bats in the bottom of the ninth inning would load the bases thanks to a pair of hits by Sophia Jackel and Illy Barclay along with Cohen reaching on an error which was followed by Hailey Trujillo singling to right field to bring home pinch runner Kallan Shaw to tie the game at 3-3.

Marina Gonzalez who started for the Cougars would get the win. On the day she would allow five hits and two runs over seven and two-thirds innings while walking one and striking out three.

For Valhalla, Devyn Mack took the loss as she allowed four runs on ten hits over eight and one-thirds innings in which she struck out four.

Winners of three in a row the Cougars move to 12-11-1 overall and 5-3 in league to remain in a tie for first place with West Hills while Valhalla has dropped six in a row to fall to 7-17 overall and 1-6 in league.

Also, a major milestone for Steele Canyon head coach Kevin Pearlstein who with the win earns his 150th career victory. Pearlstein who in his ninth season now as coach and has guided his teams to two CIF championship appearances took over in 2017 for Julie Neubauer.

WEST HILLS 3, EL CAPITAN 0 – Three early runs would be the difference as the West Hills Wolf Pack behind stellar pitching would claim the road victory on Wednesday afternoon over the El Capitan Vaqueros.

West Hills in the top of the first inning would take advantage of a couple of opportunities that included a leadoff double by Kristina Deal who would advance to third on a wild pitch and score on a ground ball out by Reegan Veltre which was followed by Katy Spargo blasting a ball over the center field fence for a solo home run and a 2-0 lead.

A couple of innings later another opportunity presented itself when Deal would come home on a dropped third strike call in which Lili Leija reached to make it 3-0.

Ava Goodman who started for the Pack earned the victory with her crafty pitching as she struck out eight over seven innings of work in which she didn’t allow any runs on three hits.

Her counterpart Addison Higuera would take the loss as she allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings in which she struck out five.

The Vaqueros three hits came courtesy of Ciara Bernardini, Kylee Frazier and Ryleigh Vesco.

West Hills improves to 14-8-1 overall and 5-2 in league while El Capitan falls to 10-13 overall and 3-4 in league.

SANTANA 10, GRANITE HILLS 4 – Thanks in part to a six run fifth inning the Santana Sultans would move past the visiting Granite Hills Eagles on Wednesday afternoon.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning the Sultans and their bats came alive as Ashlyn Darrow singled in three runs, and Kaylee Lindahl doubled in a run. Their other runs came on a walk by Brynn Warren, and a ground out by Bella Zuckerman.

Earlier in the contest Granite Hills would lead early on thanks to Ella Johnson who drove in first run in the top of the second inning.

However, the ability to keep the at-bat alive would allow Kaitlyn Ruckle to tie the game as she belted a solo home run over the center field fence in the bottom half of the inning.

Granite Hills would retake the lead in the top of the third inning thanks to Kaleigh Baugher who singled to center field and Kaylanii Caple who singled to right field would both lead to runs.

A pair of doubles by Santana in the bottom of the fourth inning would lead to the Sultans tying the game. The first double by Brianna Canty would score Bryleigh Brtiza and Ashlyn Darrow who followed with a double to score Kylee Aziz would tie the game.

Granite Hills would retake the lead in the top of the fifth inning. An error by the Sultans would give them a 4-3 lead.

Zuckerman would earn the win for the Sultans. On the day she allowed three runs on five hits while walking three and striking out three over four innings.

Baugher who started for the Eagles would take the loss as she allowed three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out one over three and two-thirds innings.

Santana with the win have now won two in a row and move to 14-8 overall and 4-3 in league while Granite Hills falls to 7-15-1 overall and 3-4 in league.

GROSSMONT VALLEY LEAGUE

GROSSMONT 11, MOUNT MIGUEL 1 (5 INN.) – Senior Carleigh Wenck drove in four runs to help the Grossmont Foothillers in the convincing win on Wednesday over the Mount Miguel Matadors.

The Foothillers who would trail 1-0 after a half inning of play would take a 3-1 lead in the first inning thanks to Saraya Roope who singled to center field, Wenck who grounded out, and Heidi Villa who walked of which all would lead to runs in the inning.

They would add to their lead in the bottom of the second inning on a base hit by Roope, Wenck hitting into a fielder’s choice, Villa was hit by a pitch and Madison Busch singled down the line to right field for another run.

Nakhia Lee who started for the Hillers would earn the win. On the day she would allow no hits and one run over three innings in which she walked three and struck out four.

Wenck, Lee, and Roope each tallied a pair of hits in the contest. Roope would also score four runs and swipe a pair of bases.

Grossmont moves to 8-15-1 overall and 4-1 in league while Mount Miguel falls to 5-9 overall and 3-3 in league.